Bhubaneswar: Protesting hike in the prices of essential commodities, three left parties on Wednesday staged a dharna in front of Raj Bhavan here demanding universalisation
of public distribution system (PDS).

Activists of CPI, CPI(M) and Forward Bloc sat on a
dharna near Raj Bhavan after walking down the streets of the
state capital here. The activists blamed both the Centre and
the state government for the increase of essential
commodities, mostly food items.
Demanding immediate stoppage of future trade, the Left
parties blamed "faulty" policies of the Centre and state
government`s failure in checking hoarding and black marketing
of essential items.

Stating that the life of middle class and working
class had been precarious due to price rise, they said in the
memorandum submitted to the Governor M C Bhandare that farmers
should be given proper price for their products.